Person airlifted to burn center after woods fire near NC Highway 133

ROCKY POINT, N.C. (WECT) - Fire crews contained a 12-acre woods fire Wednesday evening that damaged several vehicles, a boat and one structure.

The fire was reported at 4:52 p.m. on NC Highway 133 between US Highway 117 at Paul’s Place Famous Hotdogs and Cheshire Road, according to Tommy Batson, Pender County Emergency Management Director.

One person sustained burn injuries during the fire and was treated on-scene by Pender EMS & Fire before being airlifted to the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Chapel Hill for specialized care, according to the Pender County Fire Marshal’s Office.

The patient’s current condition has not been released at this time.

The flames spread from the initial scene involving multiple vehicles, a structure and a boat to the surrounding woods. An employee at Paul’s Place Famous Hotdogs said the restaurant was not involved in the fire.

“While the fire’s forward progress has been halted, residents in the Rocky Point area should expect to see and smell smoke over the next several days. The interior of the burn area will continue to smolder as crews monitor the scene for any flare-ups‚" said the Pender County Fire Marshal’s Office in a statement.

Responding agencies included Rocky Point Fire Department, Pender EMS & Fire, Burgaw Fire Department, Penderlea Fire Department, New Hanover County Fire & Rescue, NC Forestry Service and Pender County Sheriff’s Office.

NC Highway 133 was closed during the fire and has since reopened, but fire and forestry crews will continue work in the area for the next couple of hours, according to Pender County Emergency Management.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.